2021 Supreme(Online)(MAD) 45094
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS DATED : 10.11.2021 CORAM THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE C.SARAVANAN W.P.No.3347 of 2019 &
W.M.P.Nos.3630, 3632 & 3867 of 2019 (Through Video Conferencing)
PSTS Logistics Private Limited., Represented by its Vice President - Finance S.Rubywinston S/o.Selwyndurai Wavoo Mansion, 2nd Floor, 48, Rajaji Salai, Chennai- 600 001. ... Petitioner Vs The State Tax Officer, Rowing Squad-III Enforcement (East)
Chennai-6. ... Respondent Prayer: Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Certiorari, to call for the records of the respondent pertaining to the impugned proceedings vide Reference Nil Form GST MOV- 06 dated 24.01.2019 and quash the same.
For Petitioner : Mr.B.Raveendran For Respondent : Mr.D.Ravichander Government Counsel
ORDER
The petitioner has filed this writ petition challenging the impugned notice dated 24.01.2019. The impugned notice has been issued on the ground that the petitioner had admittedly transferred goods without the goods accompanying E-way Bill.
2.The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the lorry was detained and released on payment for a sum of Rs.3,52,808/- on 01.02.2019. He further submits that there is no evasion of tax and in any event the fact remains that the E-way bill was generated post facto after the lorry was seized. He therefore submits that there was no evasion of tax. The case of the petitioner is that the respondents have wrongly issued the notice contrary to Sections 122 (1) which reads as under:-
''122.Penalty for certain Offences:
(1)Where a taxable person who-
(i)Supplies any goods or services or both without issue of any invoice of issues an incorrect or false invoice with regard to any such supply;
(ii)issues any invoice or bill without supply of goods or services or both in violation of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder;
(iii)collects any amount as tax but fails to pay the same to the Government beyond a period of three months from the date on which such payment becomes due;
(iv)collects any tax in contravention of the provisions of this Act but fails to pay the same to the Government beyond a period of three months from the date on which such payment becomes due;
(v)fails to deduct the tax in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 51, or deducts an amount which is less than the amount required to be deducted under the said sub-section, or where he fails to pay to the Government under sub-section (2) thereof, the amount deducted as tax;
(vi)fails to collect tax in accordance with the provisions of sub-section (1) of section 52, or collects an amount which is less than the amount required to be collected under the said sub-section or where he fails to pay to the Government the amount collected as tax under sub-section (3) of section 52;
(vii)takes or utilises input tax credit without actual receipt of goods or services or both either fully or partially, in contravention of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder;
(viii)fraudulently obtains refund of tax under this Act;
(ix)takes or distributes input tax credit in contravention of Section 20, or the rules made thereunder;
(x)falsifies or substitutes financial records or produces fake accounts or documents or furnishes any false information or return with an intention to evade payment of tax due under this Act;
(xi)is liable to be registered under this Act but fails to obtain registeration;
(xii)furnishes any false information with regard to registration particulars, either at the time of applying for registration, or subsequently;
(xiii)obstructs or prevents any officer in discharge of his duties under this Act;
(xiv).transports any taxable goods without the cover of documents as may be specified in this behalf.
(xv)suppresses his turnover leading to evasion of tax under this Act;
(xvi)fails to keep, maintain or retain books of account and other documents in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder;
(xvii)fails to furnish information or documents called for by an offence in accordance with the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder or furnishes false information or documents during any proceedings under this Act;
(xviii)supplies, transports or stores any goods which he has reasons to believe are liable to confiscation under this Act;
(xix)issues any invoice or document by using the registration number of another registered person;
(xx)tampers with, or destroys any material evidence or document;
(xxi)disposes off or tampers with any goods that have been detained, seized, or attached under this Act, he shall be liable to pay a penalty of ten thousand rupees or an amount equivalent to the tax evaded or the tax not deducted under Section 51 or short-deducted or deducted